Teen excited to live in new transitional home

Saturday

Nov 28, 2009 at 12:01 AM

Brandon Pinkney was excited to be the first resident to move into Touchstone Village in Jacksonville, a new Independent/Transitional Living Residential Program for youths in foster care and those who are homeless. The program opened Oct. 12 to serve 40 youths ages 16-21.

Brandon is a bright young man who likes to meet new people. He describes himself as "just a quiet, average teenager" who likes to write, sing, hang out with friends, shop and go roller-skating.

He spends much of his free time practicing his writing skills, and is currently writing about his life, including his experiences with his biological family and experiences in the foster care system. Brandon has attended Patterson Academy for the Arts and plans to attend Florida State University to major in journalism.

Brandon and the other youths and young adults living in Touchstone Village engage with faculty members such as youth development specialists, life coaches, education/career specialists and a therapist on a daily basis to explore educational opportunities and work toward achieving short-term and long-term goals.

In addition, Touchstone Village's Residential Program promotes employment and career education as well as the development of life skills that will ensure that Brandon and other residents successfully gain and maintain independence with confidence.

"These young people come to us because they know that they are unprepared for the future," said Touchstone Village program manager Donna Koncinsky. "Our whole focus is to help them become competent and confident young adults, fully prepared to take on their new responsibilities."

The Youth Crisis Center and its Project Safe Place program provide Northeast Florida youths and families services to mend relationships and protect children who feel threatened, as well as a safe haven for troubled teens. For more information, call 720-0002 or visit Jacksonville.com, search term: youth crisis center.

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